Wedge



(No Model.)

A. SANFORD.

- WEDGE. No. 426,071. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

UNrrnn STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT SANFORD, OF OSHKOSII, \VISCONSIN.

WEDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,071, dated April 22, 1890.

Application filed November 12 1888.

T0 ceZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT SANFORD, of Oshkosh, in the county of XVinnebago and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vedges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to a new and improved construction of wedges designed more especially for use in splitting and sawing timher.

It is usual in cutting trees into logs and in felling trees by means of saws to insert a wedge into the cut to prevent pinching the saw. The cutting is usually done in winter, while the snow is on the ground and the timber more or less frozen, so that much trouble is experienced in driving the wedge to place, as when hit it is liable to slip back and sometimes flies out and is lost in the snow. To obviate this difficulty, the wedge has sometimes been formed very thin and with its faces slightly concaved, the outer edges forming cutting-edges; but this has given rise toanother trouble-2 (2., diificulty in. effecting the removal of the wedge, besides increasing the cost of producing the article. Now, my improvement is designed to overcome or avoid these and other defects; and it consists in certain improvements applicable separately or in conjunction, all as hereinafter more fully described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a wedge embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 's a side elevation; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view on dotted line, Fig. 2, looking toward the head. Fig. 4 is a side elevation.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The opposite faces 1 of the wedge, preferably concaved slightly, are each provided with one or a series of retaining-shoulders 2, projecting slightly beyond the face and beveled upward and outward, forming a biting or cutting edge such as will cut into the face of the wood and prevent backward movement. These shoulders project but slightly from the surface and. operate in a manner similar to the Serial No. 290,594. (No specimens.)

teeth of a single-cut file, permitting free motion in one direction, but taking hold on the surface when the wedge is forced back or out of the slot or kerf.

The retaining-shoulders may be formed straight across the face or located at any desired angle; but I prefer to form them in U or V shape, the two limbs converging toward the point of the wedge, as thereby the edges are caused to enter the surface more readily and take an extended bearing. These retaining-shoulders may be usedupon iiat-faced wedges; but, as before remarked, I prefer to employ a wedge such as shown, having the face concaved laterally, in which case the shoulders extend transversely and diagonally across the same, and are beveled and thickened slightly at the center to increase the grip at that point and tapered toward the edges of the wedge. The corners of the wedge are or may be slightly beveled or rounded, as at 3, and the edges formed or provided with shoulders or notches, as at 4. These notches or shoulders are designed to assist in prying the wedge out, when it becomes desirable or necessary to do so, by using the pick or end of a landing-hook or a crowbar or other lever, the end or side being placed under one of the shoulders and the wedge gradually forced or pried loose. The upper shoulders are projected slightly beyond the others to receive the blowof an ax or other implement to start the wedge out, and the lateral movement of the wedge produced by the blow or the application of a lever in loosening the wedge is facilitated by the beveling or rounding of the corners, so that the wedge can readily be gradually drawn or worked out without injury or liability of flying.

In addition to the shoulders at to assist in the removal of the wedge, I provide a flange or rib 5 around the head, to which the lever can be applied when the wedge has been driven its full length into the kerf or crack.

In the top of the wedge 'a cavity or socket 6 is formed for the reception of a plug of wood or rawhide to receive the blow in driving, whereby the ax may be employed for driving the wedge without danger of 1nutilating either the head of the wedge or the ax, as would otherwise be the case were the ax applied to the head of the steel or iron head.

The socket 6 is preferably made tapering (the larger diameter within the head) to retain the wooden plug in position, while the sides are strengthened by the flange or rib 5.

Wedging-points 10 are formed at the base of the socket to split or expand the plug and cause it to fill the socket.

The point or entering-edge may be formed straight, if desired, as shown bydotted lines in Fig. 2; but I prefer to curve it, as shown, and form diagonal ribs 7 on the faces at the corners, to assist in retaining the wedge and prevent its backing out when inserted, the retaining-shoulders forming barb-like edges, which enter the kerf or split at the outset and become embedded in the surface sufficiently to retain the wedge in position and prevent it from being thrown out.

It will be seen my improved wedge embodies three distinct features or advantages relating, respectively, to the means for retaining, driving, and extracting the blade, all of which elements may be embodied in a single article which can readily be made from malleable or wrought iron or of steel, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. As a new article of manufacture, a wedge having concave faces, with beveled ribs extending transversely and diagonally across said faces, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a wedge provided with concave surfaces having transverse holding-ribs thicker at the center of the wedge and tapering toward its edges, substantially as described.

3. As anew article of manufacture, a wedge provided with shoulders on its parallel edge or edges between the head and entering edge, as described, for the reception of a lever in loosening the wedge, as set forth.

4:. A wedge such as described, provided with notches or shoulders on its edges and beveled corners, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. Awedge such as described, provided with a curved entering end or edge and diagonal retaining-shoulders on the face near the corners, substantially as described. 7

.6. As a new article of manufacture, the hereinbefore-described improved wedge, provided with concave faces, beveled corners, notched edges, diagonal retaining-shoulders, and recessed head, substantially as described.

7. As a new article of manufacture, awedge whose opposite inclined surfaces are concaved laterally and furnished with transverse sh oulders or ribs, substantially as described.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a wedge such as described, provided with the beveled ribs extending transversely and diagonally across its face, the beveled and shouldered edges, the curved end, and diagonal ribs at the corners, and the undercut or extended recess in the head for the reception of a striking plug, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ALBERT SANFORD.

Witnesses C. R. NEVITT, Jr, W'ALTER S. DUPPERs. 

